Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL69404’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL69404’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; scarlet red-colored petals with radiating yellow-colored stripes that extend to the edge of the petal; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL69404’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL69404’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on May 8, 2014 of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ21-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ26-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 9, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 10, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL69404’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL69404’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Scarlet red-colored petals with radiating yellow-colored         stripes that extend to the edge of the petal.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have cherry pink-colored petals with creamy yellow-colored stripes.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have cherry red-colored petals with yellow-colored stripes that extend halfway to the edge of the petal.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL91001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCAL91001’ have red purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored stripes that extend to the edge of the petal.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL42202’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,008. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL42202’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCAL42202’ have violet-colored flowers with purple-colored stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL69404’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL69404’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL69404’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ21-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CJ26-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five             weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six             weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate;             freely branching habit with about five primary lateral             branches each with about three secondary branches; dense and             bushy appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 10.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 13             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 28 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 13 cm to 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Rounded to broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute             pubescence; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Mostly smooth with scattered pubescence;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 270 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Minute             pubescence; matte. Color: Close to 152B to 152C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.6 cm by 2.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet; lobes recurved. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Minute pubescence especially along the veins;             matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Tube texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte.             Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to             187B to 187C. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close             to more grey than N170D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper             surface: Ground color, close to 53A; band surrounding the             throat, darker red than 53A; narrow radiating stripes, close             to 12A; venation, close to 53A; with development, ground             color becoming closer to 53B and band, closer to 53A. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 186C; narrow             radiating stripes, close to 2C; venation, close to 187B to             187C; color does not fade with development. Throat: Close to             16A; venation, close to 153C. Tube: Close to slightly more             grey than 153D; venation, close to 183B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Sepal             length: About 6 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute             pubescence; matte. Sepal color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color:             Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four per flower.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145B. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round.             Anther color: Close to 3B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 9C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style             color: Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146B. Ovary color: Close             to 146D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL69404’ as illustrated and described. 